Dart and roulette board

ABSTRACT

A dart and roulette board adapted for playing the games of standard darts, standard roulette, rotating darts wherein the game board rotates about its axis, and rotating roulette darts wherein the game board rotates about its axis, including a circular frame having a circular target disc rotatably supported therein and adapted to be rotatably driven by a motor mounted therebehind, the face of the disc having imprinted thereon a roulette playing surface along with a dart playing surface, and a plurality of pins projecting normal to the face of the disc and spaced about the circumferal edge thereof adapted to coact with a hinged pointer mounted on the frame in a position adapted to engage such pin upon rotation of the board about its axis when the board is used for standard roulette play, the board adapted to be mounted to any suitable vertical supporting surface such as a wall, door and the like.

United States Patent .1191

(Brocker Nov. 26, 1974 1 1 DART AND ROULETTE BOARD [57] ABSTRACTlnvemori Clifford Cmcker, 2 Campfield A dart and roulette board adaptedfor playing the Ave., Hartford, Conn. 06114 games of standard darts,standard roulette, rotating darts wherein the game board rotates aboutits axis, [22] Flled' Sept' 1973 and rotating roulette darts wherein thegame board ro- [21] Appl. No.: 396,530 tates about its axis, including acircular frame having a circular target disc rotatably supported thereinand 7 adapted to be rotatably driven by a motor mounted [52] 273/1052"73/102 273/142 JA therebehind, the face of the disc having imprinted[51] Int. Cl A63b 71/02 thereon a roulette h in, wrhce "Ion, with I dim58 Field of Search 273/95 R, 102 B, 105.2, E z E 773/105 6 playingsurface, and a plurality of pins PFOJCCIlllg normal to the face of thedisc and spaced about the cir- 56] References Cited cu nferal edgethereof adapted to coactwith a hinged pointer mounted on the frame in aposition adapted to UNITED STATES PATENTS engage such pin upon rotationof the board about its 1,076,002 10/1913 Clarke 273/1052 axis when theboard is used for standard roulette play, 3/1212 k 2 7 5 the boardadapted to be mounted to any suitable verti- 00 S011 l 1 2,077,0014/1937 Moss 273/1052 Suppomng Surface Such as a door and the 2.179.47111/1939 Lee 273/1052 2,534,730 12/1950 Peacock 273/1052 3.409.30111/1968 Studen 273/102 B 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PrimaryE.1'aminerAnton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind E Z?) in,27$

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DART AND ROULETTE BOARD BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of theInvention This invention relates generally to games and moreparticularly to a novel combined dart and roulette board providing forthe play of four separate games thereon with three of such gamesutilizing darts.

2. Description of the Prior Art It has been known in the prior art toprovide a dart board to be mounted on a suitable vertical surface orhaving a stand for supporting the same on a horizontal surface andadapted to receive darts therein, the face of the dart board beingmarked in various configurations for the play of different types ofgames thereon, such as standard darts, baseball, football, and the likeplayed by an individual throwing darts at the board with the scoring andprocess of play depending upon where the darts strike the board.However, after numerous hours of play an individual soon develops askill and expertise at striking the dart board in the desired locationso that no further enjoyment or challenge is presented with the dartboard soon falling into a state of disuse. It would thus be desirable toprovide a dart board which would maintain an individuals interestregardless of an individuals skill and expertise as to always presentinga challenge thereto.

A further game which is popular in the home is the game of roulettewhich may be played using the conventional dish shaped apparatus havinga rotating central member and a ball adapted to be spun about theoutside of the dish member until falling into a pocket or the likedisposed on a segment of the rotating member, the apparatus intended foroperation in a horizontal plane by resting on a suitable supportsurface, such as a table or the like. A further way of playing the fameof roulette is by the use of a vertical wheel mounted at its axis forrotation thereabout and having a plurality of pins projecting outwardlyfrom the circumferal surface thereof and spaced thereabout adapted to beengaged with a pointer disposed at the top of the frame of the board,rotation of the board effecting the series engagement of the pins withthe pointer which effects the slowing of the board until finally theboard stops with the pointer indicating the winning number as imprintedon the face of the board. The game of roulette is a popular party gameplayed by a plurality of individuals, and in view of the separateequipment which must be purchased for the play of the game and theexpense thereof only few homes andindividuals have the game availablefor enjoyment at parties or the like. Further, the conventional play ofthe game of roulette soon becomes boring so that it would be desirableto provide a modification thereof which would enhance the enjoyabilityof the play thereof and require more of an individual skill andexpertise rather than mere chance on the spinning of the board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novelcombination creased versatility and usefullness by providing astationary as well as a moving board permitting play of stationary ormoving roulette and darts thereon.

A further feature of the present invention provides a combined dart androulette board adapted to be used by persons of all ages and expertiseand adapted to compensate for difference in skills between individuals,such as by one individual playing the game of standard darts with theboard in a stationary position, with the other individual playingagainst said first individual and having a greater skill and expertiseplaying the same game of darts but having the board rotating requiring agreater skill to achieve a high score.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a combineddart and roulette board adapted for the play of several games thereonwithout requiring time consuming changes or modifications thereto.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a combineddart and roulette board which is motorized to rotate about its axis in amanner to enhance the playing of the games of darts and roulette byproviding a moving target therefor.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides acombination dart and roulette board which is relatively simple in itsconstruction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at arelatively low cost and bysimple manufacturing methods.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a combineddart and roulette board which is rugged and durable and which thereforemay be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of dartboard and roulette board which permits the playv ing of darts androulette in the standard manner, and also permits the play of modifiedforms of such games in a manner to heighten the excitement and interesttherein.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a combined dart androulette board which is of an inthe intended usage; one which isaesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; one which may be soldwith associated accessory equipment permitting the play of the completegame of darts and roulette therewith, or which may be sold separatelywith the individual able to purchase such additional parts to play dartsand roulette separately from the board; and one which, otherwise, iswell adapted to perform the services required of it, are furtherdesirable features which have been borne in mind in the production anddevelopment of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which like reference characters areemployed to designate like parts throughout the same;

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a board constructed in accordancewith the present invention mounted on a vertical wall;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the board of FIG. 1, partiallybroken away to disclose details thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front plan view of the board;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the hingedpointer illustrated in the inoperative position; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the hinged pointer inthe operative position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT board constructed in accordancewith the principles of the present invention and which is designated inits entirety by the reference numeral 10, the board comprised of a discshaped target 11 rotatably mounted about its axis in a frame 12 andadapted to be rotatably driven about its axis by a motor 13 disposedrearwardly of the frame.

The frame 12 is of a circular configuation having a back surface 21 andside walls 22 of a cylindrical configuration having one end connectedwith the peripheral edges of the back surface with the side wallsextending outwardly normal thereto and terminating at outermost end 23,the outermost ends defining a horizontal plane parallel to the backsurface and spaced outwardly therefrom. Defined interiorly of the sidewalls 22 and back surface 21 is a circular compartment 25 adapted toreceive target 11 therein as will be later described. The back surface21 is provided with an aperture 26 in the top portion thereof adapted toengage the outermost end ofa hook member 27 projecting outwardly from avertical wall surface 28 in a manner to support the frame 12 therefrom.

The motor 13 is mounted centrally of the back surface 21 on the exteriorsurface thereof and is provided with a motor shaft 31 projecting throughan aperture 32 in the back wall 21 axially thereof and adapted to engagethe target 11 as will be later described. The motor 13 is preferably ofan electric motor adapted for operation on normal 115 volts alternatingcurrent and is provided with a power supply cord 33 having a plug 34 atthe free end thereof adapted to be plugged into a typical standardelectrical outlet 35, with a control switch 36 electrically interposedin the cord 33 to be operated in a manner energizing and de-energizingthe motor 13.

The target 11 is in the form of a circular disc having a face surface41, a parallel back surface 42, and cylindrical side walls 43interconnecting the peripheral edges of the face and back. The target 11is ofa diameter slightly less than the diameter of the compartment 25and is of a thickness slightly less than the depth of the compartment,the target adapted to be rotatably received in the compartmentconcentric therewith and connected to motor shaft 31 in a manner tosupportably retain the target in the frame 12 in a manner rotative inthe plane of the frame.

The face 41 of the target 11 is provided with a plurality ofcircumferally spaced pin like members 45 disposed at spaced apartintervals about the peripheral edge of the target face and projectingnormal thereto. The face 41 is provided with a series of radially extending lines and concentric circles having numbers associated therewithdefining a dart board type target surface, and is also provided with aseries of random numbers disposed about the peripheral edge surfacerelative to the pins in a manner defining a conventional type roulettenumbered board. It is to be understood that such markings are preferablyimprinted directly on the face surface 41 with such face surface beingof a penetrable material adapted to receive and retain therein thepointed ends of darts thrown thereagainst in a conventional manner, thelines thus not interfering in any way with the dart penetration of thetarget 11.

Mounted on the side wall 22, preferably at the top of the frame 12, isan elongated flexible pointer 51 projecting normal to a flange 52hingedly connected by hinge pin 53 to a flange 54 secured to the sidewall 22 by fasteners 55, such as screws, bolts or the like, with thepointer being pivotable about pin 53 to an operative position whereinthe pointer projects parallel to the target face 41 in a directiontoward the axis thereof and in a position to coact with pins 45 intypical standard roulette fashion, such operative position beingdesignated generally in phantom configuration in FIG. 4 and indicated byreference numeral 56. The pointer 51 is pivotable about hinge pin 53 tothe inoperative position wherein the pointer is disposed in the plane ofthe frame and does not project in front of the target face 41, thusavoiding any possible interference with darts being thrown at the targetface.

In operation, the board 10 is mounted by hook 27 to the vertical wallsurface 28, the switch 36 placed in the off position, and the plug 34inserted into socket 35 preparatory to energize the motor 13.

To play the game of standard darts, the motor is not energized so thatthe target 11 is stationary, after which darts are thrown against thetarget face 41 in the normal manner with the scoring and play of thegame proceding in any of the standard conventional manners. During thisplay of darts, the pointer 51 is placed in the inoperative position toavoid any possibility of interfering and deflecting a dart being thrownat the target face 41.

To play the game of standard conventional type roulette, the pointer 51is placed in the operative position to coact with pins 45, after whichswitch 36 is utilized to energize motor 13 to spin the target 11 aboutits axis. switch 36 de-energizing the motor at a random time by manualoperation of the players with the pointer slowing the rotation of thetarget by engagement with successive pins 45 until the target finallystops and the pointer indicates the winning number as imprinted on thetarget face 41.

To play the game of rotating darts, the pointer 51 is placed in theinoperative position, after which the motor 13 is energized to rotatethe target 11 about its axis after which the players take turns inthrowing darts thereagainst, but this time requiring a greater skill andexpertise to strike desired portions of the dart board in view of therotation of the same. In this regard, it is to be understood that thisrotation of the dart board permits a player of great expertise to playagainst a player of little expertise in that the player of littleexpertise may throw his darts with the dart board in a stationaryposition, after which the dart board may be energized to rotate aboutits axis with the player of greater expertise having to strike intendedtargets while the dart board is moving, this placing the two players ata some what equal skill position so that players of unequal skills mayplay against each other with a high level of enjoyment not previouslypossible when a player of great skill could so easily win over a gameplayed with a player of lesser skill.

in operation to play roulette rotating darts, the

pointer 51 is placed in the inoperative position after which the motor13 is energized to spin the target 11 about its axis, with the playersthen announcing a selected number to the other players and thenattempting to throw a dart at the moving target to strike the announcednumber, a player winning if his dart strikes the number as announced andlosing if his dart strikes any other number. The skill of this game isheightened by requiring that the players throw the darts to strike thetarget face in areas adjacent the projecting pins where the roulettenumbers are imprinted on the target face.

There is thus provided a novel combined dart and roulette boardpermitting the play of both the game of darts and the game of roulettein ways other than the standard conventional ways thus both increasingthe versatility and usefullness of the board while heightening theexcitement and interest thereof.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shownand described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, andthat this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement ofparts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in thisspecification as various changes in the details of construction as toshape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novelconcepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed l. A dart androulette board comprising a circular frame having a circular backsurface with cylindrical side walls extending outwardly normal theretofrom the peripheral edges of the back surface and terminating in aforward most end edge defining a vertical plane parallel to the backsurface and spaced outwardly therefrom, a circular compartment definedinteriorly of the side walls and back surface in the frame andconcentric therewith, a circular disc of a diameter slightly less thanthe diameter of the frame compartment and of a thickness slightly lessthan the depth of the compartment and adapted to be received in thecompartment concentric therewith, the disc having a front face surfaceforming a target imprinted thereon and formed of a dart supportingmaterial adapted to receive and retain the pointed ends of conventionaltype darts therein, a back surface parallel to the face surface, andperipheral cylindrical side walls interconnecting the peripheral edgesof the face and back surfaces, an electric motor mounted to the exteriorsurface of the frame back surface and having a shaft driven therebyprojecting axially therefrom through an axial opening provided in theframe back surface with the shaft terminal end projecting into the framecompartment centrally thereof, said motor shaft terminal end disposedconcentrically with the disc and connected to the disc back surface tosupport the disc in spaced apart juxtaposition with the frame backsurface and with the disc peripheral side wall surfaces in juxtapositionwith the interior frame side walls and spaced slightly therefrom, thetarget face of the disc disposed substantially co-planar with the planedefined by the outer ends of the frame side walls, the electric motoroperative to rotate the disc about its axis upon energization of themotor, a source of electric energy, an electrical cord adapted tointerconnect the electric motor to the source of electric energy, anelectrical switch interposed in the electrical cord adapted to energizeand de-energize the electric motor, a plurality of circumferally spacedaxially projecting pins disposed angularly about the peripheral edges ofthe target face and projecting outwardly therefrom, a flexible pointerconnected to the frame and projecting normal to the target face adaptedto coact with successive pins exposed thereto during the rotation of thedisc aboutits axis, the pointer being pivotally mounted between anoperative pin engaging position disposed forwardly of the plane of thetarget face of the disc and an inoperative position disposed rearwardlyfrom the plane of the target face of the disc, and a multiplicity ofradially extending lines and concentric circular lines imprinted on thedisc face and having numbers associated therewith defining a target onthe disc face.

2. The board as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pointer comprises apair of flanges interconnected by a hinge pin, one flange being fixedlymounted to the frame side wall with the hinged end thereof disposedadjacent and slightly rearwardly of the forward most end edge of theframe side walls and extending parallel to the plane thereof, the secondflange hingedly connected to the hinge pin for pivotal movementthereabout into an operative position disposed in longitudinal alignmentwith the first flange and projecting outwardly of the forward most endedge of the frame side walls in a manner overlying the pins projectingfrom the disc target face, and an inoperative position disposedrearwardly of the plane of the target face and within the plane of theframe, an elongated flexible pointer member mounted to the free end ofthe movable flange member in a position thereon projecting normal to theplane of the disc when in the operative position to engage successivepins on the disc face and coact therewith in a manner to slow and stopthe rotation of the disc about its axis upon the de-energization of themotor, and adapted to be moved into an inoperative position in the planeof the frame when the board is being used with darts or the like wherebythe pointer would not offer any possible interference to the path of adart striking the disc face.

3. The board as set forth in claim 2 wherein the frame back surface isprovided with an aperture exteriorly thereof in the top portion thereof,a hook member having one end adapted to be mounted to a suitablesupporting vertical surface, such as a wall, door and the like, with thehook member opposite end adapted to engage the back surface aperture ina manner to support the board on the vertical surface spaced a slightdistance outwardly therefrom.

1. A dart and roulette board comprising a circular frame having acircular back surface with cyLindrical side walls extending outwardlynormal thereto from the peripheral edges of the back surface andterminating in a forward most end edge defining a vertical planeparallel to the back surface and spaced outwardly therefrom, a circularcompartment defined interiorly of the side walls and back surface in theframe and concentric therewith, a circular disc of a diameter slightlyless than the diameter of the frame compartment and of a thicknessslightly less than the depth of the compartment and adapted to bereceived in the compartment concentric therewith, the disc having afront face surface forming a target imprinted thereon and formed of adart supporting material adapted to receive and retain the pointed endsof conventional type darts therein, a back surface parallel to the facesurface, and peripheral cylindrical side walls interconnecting theperipheral edges of the face and back surfaces, an electric motormounted to the exterior surface of the frame back surface and having ashaft driven thereby projecting axially therefrom through an axialopening provided in the frame back surface with the shaft terminal endprojecting into the frame compartment centrally thereof, said motorshaft terminal end disposed concentrically with the disc and connectedto the disc back surface to support the disc in spaced apartjuxtaposition with the frame back surface and with the disc peripheralside wall surfaces in juxtaposition with the interior frame side wallsand spaced slightly therefrom, the target face of the disc disposedsubstantially co-planar with the plane defined by the outer ends of theframe side walls, the electric motor operative to rotate the disc aboutits axis upon energization of the motor, a source of electric energy, anelectrical cord adapted to interconnect the electric motor to the sourceof electric energy, an electrical switch interposed in the electricalcord adapted to energize and de-energize the electric motor, a pluralityof circumferally spaced axially projecting pins disposed angularly aboutthe peripheral edges of the target face and projecting outwardlytherefrom, a flexible pointer connected to the frame and projectingnormal to the target face adapted to coact with successive pins exposedthereto during the rotation of the disc about its axis, the pointerbeing pivotally mounted between an operative pin engaging positiondisposed forwardly of the plane of the target face of the disc and aninoperative position disposed rearwardly from the plane of the targetface of the disc, and a multiplicity of radially extending lines andconcentric circular lines imprinted on the disc face and having numbersassociated therewith defining a target on the disc face.
 2. The board asset forth in claim 1 wherein the pointer comprises a pair of flangesinterconnected by a hinge pin, one flange being fixedly mounted to theframe side wall with the hinged end thereof disposed adjacent andslightly rearwardly of the forward most end edge of the frame side wallsand extending parallel to the plane thereof, the second flange hingedlyconnected to the hinge pin for pivotal movement thereabout into anoperative position disposed in longitudinal alignment with the firstflange and projecting outwardly of the forward most end edge of theframe side walls in a manner overlying the pins projecting from the disctarget face, and an inoperative position disposed rearwardly of theplane of the target face and within the plane of the frame, an elongatedflexible pointer member mounted to the free end of the movable flangemember in a position thereon projecting normal to the plane of the discwhen in the operative position to engage successive pins on the discface and coact therewith in a manner to slow and stop the rotation ofthe disc about its axis upon the de-energization of the motor, andadapted to be moved into an inoperative position in the plane of theframe when the board is being used with darts or the like whereby thepointer would not offer any possible interfErence to the path of a dartstriking the disc face.
 3. The board as set forth in claim 2 wherein theframe back surface is provided with an aperture exteriorly thereof inthe top portion thereof, a hook member having one end adapted to bemounted to a suitable supporting vertical surface, such as a wall, doorand the like, with the hook member opposite end adapted to engage theback surface aperture in a manner to support the board on the verticalsurface spaced a slight distance outwardly therefrom.